View Full Version : When my dorm room tank is up...
from my dorm
10-10-2005, 3:09 PM
What fish can I put in it? I love angels but they need more then a 10 gallon. I also am kicking around the idea of tetras? I think they are fun little fish and also fit well within my budget. I am in college so money factors in at some point! Also, where should I put the tank? It is either going above my desk on the shelf, which is sort of high so I do not love that idea. Near the window but I think that might effect the amount of algae in my tank? Or near the door which is opposite the window on a shelf. I have no idea what is best, so let me know!
from my dorm
FreddytheFish
10-10-2005, 3:12 PM
hmmm. if you want cheap, fun fish, you might want to go with zebra danios. they are super hyper and fun and go for about 3 for a dollar(US)
mvigor
10-10-2005, 3:12 PM
If you like tetras, it would be a good idea to pick just one type and get a small school of maybe 6 of them.
from my dorm
10-10-2005, 3:13 PM
can I get help with the tank location? Also, I need help with the setting up of the tank
Ham Ham
10-10-2005, 3:15 PM
i have a 10 gallon with a butterfly fish and 2 feeders
mvigor
10-10-2005, 3:15 PM
You would do best to avoid putting the tank in the sun. If at all possible, keep it in the shade completely. Luckily with a tank that small, if your first location doesn't work out, you can empty out 8 gallons, carry the tank to a new spot, and fill it back up again.
from my dorm
10-10-2005, 3:17 PM
I guess the shade makes sense. I will have a hood of course. How many hours a day should I have lights on? My sleeping habits are awful but I usually wake up around 9am and in bed by about 2am. Obviously that is too long...maybe 9am-9pm?
Satin and Tat
10-10-2005, 3:19 PM
10 gallons are a bit small for schooling fish like tetras, so if you do go for tetras, make sure you get a small species rather than something that gets 2" long.
If you find that you have an algae problem, otos are quite effective. Three would probably work nicely in a 10 gallon. I've heard that they're not very hardy, especially when introduced into a new tank, but mine have all done well so far. I've only had one "batch", though, so maybe I just got lucky with them.
Have you considered corys? Some of the smaller species (like pygmy corys) could be a nice addition to the tank.
If you want a "centerpiece" fish, a male betta or dwarf gourami could work, as long as there's nothing nippy in the tank.
It's generally not a good idea to leave tanks in direct sunlight, so you might not want to put it too close to the window.
wataugachicken
10-11-2005, 4:32 PM
it is either going above my desk on the shelf, which is sort of high so I do not love that idea. Near the window but I think that might effect the amount of algae in my tank? Or near the door which is opposite the window on a shelf.
keep in mind that the tank will probably weigh somewhere around 90-95 lbs. i've found that a small, sturdy nightstand works best. a shelf, esp. if it is school furniture, isn't going to be able to hold that amount for any extended period. most cheaper furniture is made of that processed chip-board type wood, and isn't weight-bearing at all. even if it is good wood, then you have to wonder if the screws or nails can stand up to the weight without too much pressure being put on them leading to then just shearing off. you may be able to check out local thrift stores and find a small, cheap piece of furniture that suits your purposes. look for something that has the vertical support as close to the dimensions of the tank as possible. a stand that has more than a few inches between the sides of the tank and the sides of the stand with no support directly underneath is probably going to warp sooner than you think.
MattyJFly
10-11-2005, 4:48 PM
Yeah the previous post nailed it: remember weight. Figure 100 pounds. I wouldn't trust any old shelf with that.
I have a 10G and a 55G. My 10G is as follows:
2 Albino cories
4 Zebra Danios
1 Dalmation molly.
It's a nice setup. Consider also ...
--2 dalmation mollies and an african dwarf frog
--2-3 tiger barbs
--2 Kenyi cichlids
-Matt
from my dorm
10-11-2005, 4:55 PM
Good call...I might be getting a 10 hex with stand included from my brother. That would solve the problem of the shelf otherwise I will have buy something. Thanks for the help!!
nomadofthehills
10-11-2005, 9:00 PM
I beleive kenyi's get over 5 inches, unless we are talking about diff fish
With a 10 hex you'll probably be better off with something like a betta or a couple of dwarf gouramis. I was thinking that shell dwellers would be pretty cool and fun to watch, but they need a bit more of a footprint since they inhabit only the bottom section of a tank. With a tank that has so much verticle space... bottom dwellers wouldn't work out as well.
I wouldn't put tetras in a 10 hex only because they need more horizontal space to swim. Guppies, mollies or swordtails could work though.
MattyJFly
10-12-2005, 11:21 AM
I beleive kenyi's get over 5 inches, unless we are talking about diff fish
I've had 2 -female- kenyi's that have stayed 1.5" for the longest time (months, months, months), where the males have certainly grown.
Holly9937
10-12-2005, 11:41 AM
If your brother has a tank set up, see if you can run your filter on his tank for a while, or get some filter media from him (assuming you are close enough to do so). Check out the cycling process in the stickys if you're not familiar with it. If you just fill up the tank and put in fish, you will be looking at large daily water changes, which few people, especially college students, have the time for!!! It will save you alot of trouble :hi: